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Brantford Bulldogs

Lavoie & Xhekaj Lead Bulldogs' Effort in 5-3 Victory Over Kingston

March 2, 2024 - Ontario Hockey League (OHL)
Brantford Bulldogs News Release


BRANTFORD, ONTARIO. Following their Friday night meeting with the Memorial Cup hosts the Brantford Bulldogs ended their weekend back-to-back on home ice hosting the Kingston Frontenacs in an East Division matinee for the penultimate contest in the season series.

The Fronts started the game with jump, piling 8 shots to Matteo Drobac's goal in the first half of the frame with the best opportunity coming from Luke McNamara on the doorstep, which was denied by an impressive split stop from the "Croatian Sensation". Christopher Thibodeau garnered the Fronts next big opportunity but Matteo Drobac turned him aside flashing the leather. The Bulldogs head to their first advantage but the Fronts penalty kill comes off strong blocking most shot opportunities by the Bulldogs. After Marek Vanacker had a breakaway chance turned away by Vaccari, the momentum seemed to shift with the Bulldogs earing a lengthy 5-on-3 advantage for 1:34. It took just 15 seconds of the two-man advantage as Jake O'Brien & Patrick Thomas played catch below the goal line with Thomas feeding Zakary Lavoie at the top of the right circle where the Bulldogs' sniper stepped in and fired five-hole for his 27th of the season to give the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead at 17:50. The lead held to the intermission with Matteo Drobac turning aside all 10 he faced continuing a strong run that has seen the Bulldogs starting netminder post a .906 sv% dating back to February 1st.

A scary moment early in the middle frame as Maleek McGowan & Cole Brown locked skates and tumbled awkwardly to the ice, with McGowan crashing into the end boards but both were able to pop back up and continue in the game. After another big Matteo Drobac stop on Luke McNamara, the Bulldogs doubled their lead to 2-0. Florian Xhekaj started the play over the line finding Cole Brown left who looked off the net and drove a cross-crease pass to Patrick Thomas where he scores his 18th of the season. The hosts continued to add to their lead at 6:51 with Zakary Lavoie gaining a 2-on-1 opportunity from a zopne exit pass from Daniil Sobolev. Using Marek Vanacker as the decoy, Lavoie chose to shoot and again picked five-hole on Vaccari to score his 28th of the season and 2nd of the game putting the Bulldogs ahead 3-0. The Fronts cut into the Bulldogs lead at 11:53 on the man advantage as Roman Schmidt found Paul Ludwinski up the left wing side who was in turn able to deliver a cross-zone pass to Matthew Soto who was alone at the bottom of the right circle to record his 20th of the season, sending the game to the final frame with a two-goal lead for the Bulldogs, 3-1.

On a two-man advantage of their own at 2:51 of the final frame, the Frontenacs were able to draw closer. Jacob Battaglia, curling from below the goal line on the right side was able to sneak a shot under the pads of Drobac from an off angle to score his 29th of the season pulling Kingston to within one at 3-2. The Fronts quickly followed rushing the Bulldogs zone on a 2-on-1 opportunity where Paul Ludwinski has Matthew Soto, but the a magnificent diving effort from Owen Protz was able to break up the play. At 12:32, the Bulldogs resotred the two-goal lead after Cole Brown wouldn't allow a Kingston clear, forcing a high zone turnover, Florian Xhekaj hit Adrian Rebelo tape to tape where Rebelo whistled a shot over the shoulder of Mason Vaccari to score his 4th of the season putting Brantford ahead 4-2. The Frontenacs didn't surrender and at 17:19 with their net empty Linus Hemström's left circle shot struck the back of the Bulldogs net for his 21st of the season but 4-3 was as close at the Fronts would come. At 18:44, Florian Xhekaj pulled the puck loose off the left wing defensive zone boards and rolled the puck 165-feet into the empty net for his 31st of the season and 3rd point of the night securing a 5-3 Bulldogs win.

The Bulldogs return to action on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, heading on the road to take on the Mississauga Steelheads with puck drop at 11am.

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